On December 17,
2014, President Obama recognized that more than 50 years of U.S. policy towards
Cuba had failed and needed to be changed. In an exchange of letters between
Presidents Raúl Castro and Barack Obama on July 1, 2015, both indicated that
they were guided by the intention to develop respectful relationships of
cooperation between both peoples and governments. This was to be based on the
principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, International
Law and the Vienna Convention on diplomatic and consular relations.

The historic step
of opening embassies in each other’s capitals on July 20, 2015 was a step in the
right direction. On that day diplomatic relations were, after 54 years, reestablished
and while the countries of the world welcomed these changes, there is still much
work to be done before Cuba and the United States and the peoples of each
country can have that "respectful relationship of cooperation".

In order to
achieve normal relations between both countries, the economic, commercial and financial blockade that has caused great hardship to the Cuban people for many
years has to be lifted.

The
representatives of our country, Sweden, at the United Nations have voted year after year in
favor of a resolution that strongly condemns the economic, commercial and
financial blockade imposed for more than 50 years by the US on Cuba. A bi product of this blockade is that
it negatively affects Swedish
investments in Cuba.

The US blockade
also affects the people in the US. The elimination of the blockade would offer trade
opportunities, as well as development of contacts and exchanges in all fields
of culture. It would also bring about possibilities to access new medical Cuban
technology such as Heberprot P — a safe and effective medication that reduces
the risk of amputation due to diabetes complications by as much as 78 percent.

It is thereby our strong
hope and fervent desire that the US Congress follows the wishes of their
constituents, as well as the people around the world, and
vote to eliminate the blockade as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Hillevi
Larsson, Member of
Parliament (Social Democratic Party)

Valter Mutt, Member of Parliament (Green
Party), foreign
policy spokesman for the Green Party